Whirlpool game device



Sept. 13, 1932. c, c, DE PEW WHIRLPOOL GAME DEVICE Filed July 18, 1931 I N VEN TOR.

M. Mn w i 6 0 Patented Sept. 13, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHESTER 0. DE PEW, F KEYPOET, NEW JERSEY, AssIGnoR 'ro wHIELroon incoaro RATED, A CORPORATION OF N W Year; 1 a i WHIRLPOOL GAME ioEvIcE Application filed my 18, 1931. Serial No.' .551,e42.

This invention relates generally to new and useful improvements in games and more specifically to a novel game requiring a high degree of skill in the manipulation of a spherical element around a helical path or guiding means forming a whirlpool and which is provided with openings or pockets of different numerical value disposed adjacent the several convolutions of the helical path.

The invention as herein disclosed and claimed constitutes an improvement over the one shown in the Patent No. 1,798,900 of March 31, 1931.

An object of the invention is to provide agame similiar to the one described in the above mentioned patent but in which the helical guiding means is so formed as to actually provide a whirlpool effect when the game is played. 7

Various objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious from an inspection of the accompanying drawing and a careful consideration of the following particular description and claims of one form of mechanism embodying my invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken approximately at the center of the device.

Figure 3 is a cross section with portions broken away.

With reference to the drawing 10 designates a substantially horizontal table board in which is formed a circular opening 11. In

circular alignment with this opening there is secured in any suitable manner, a bowl 12 having sloping side Walls 13 and a bottom 14: sloping towards the center. The aforesaid. bowl is of frustro-conical formation disposed in an inverted position.

Supported within this bowl there is a helicoid 15 preferably formed of circular tubing and arranged so as to be equally spaced. from ;the side walls 13 to a degree not in excess of the diameter of the ball 16 so that it may provide a path or track in conjunction with the side walls for the ball to roll upon in a downward direction towards the bot-. tom of the bowl. This helicoid terminates at its upper end in a substantially straight portion;17 which extends along above the table top in spaced relation and provides a side rail which in conjunction with a similar rail 18 spaced parallel therefrom forms a guiding means for the ball 16 whenprojected from its starting point at 19 by any suitable means such as a, cue (not shown). This rela- 'tively straight path should'beof suchlength as to enable the ball to acquire considerable momentum before it enters the helical guide and the rails 17 and 18 should be spaced from the top of the table a little morexthan one half the diameter of the ball. f

In the side walls 13 there-are formedja number of openings 20of more or less elliptical formation disposed so thatwhen the ball is rolling upon the upper side of the helical guide 15 as shown at 21 it will readilyyenter any one of the openings. However, the open ings should be so spaced away from the lower side of-each convolution of thehelicoidthat the ball may have aclear and uninterrupted path when travelling at high speed in contact with the underside of the helicoid'since it will be maintained in that position as long as its rolling speed is sufiiciently highfto develope centrifugal force enough tomaintain it in that position. Afurther opening 25 is formed in the bottom 14 preferably at the center and a stop 26 may be provided so as torestrain the ball from unnecessary circular jmotion whenit has reached the bottomof the The openings may be connected to.

bowl. conduits 30 so that the'ball may be conducted to a tray31 at the plavers-end of the table.

The operation of the device is as follow: Theball is initiallyplaced at the beginning of the straight path and -struck I forcibly with a cue or set into motion by any other means either manually or mechanically, opv erated at the will of the player. As the ball contacts with the helix, it will be drawn down wardly into the bowl, due to the'centrifugal force generated by its diversion from the straight path will travel in contact with the lower side of the convolutionsandthe sloping side walls of the bowl which will tend to support the ball; this position o fthe-ball will be maintained as long as the ball retains onQ the coil from where it will readily roll into an adjacent opening. The openings may be suitably numbered as shown in Fig. 3 so that a score may be kept of theplay as it proceeds.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention and portions of the improvements may be used without the others j whilst not departing from the spirit of the invention. 1

' Having thus described my invention, I claim: v

1. A whirlpool game device, comprising a conic'ally formed helicoid having a vertical axis, and side walls conformed to the angle of said helicoid and arranged in spaced relation therewith; said side walls provided with openings disposed adjacent the convolutions of said helicoid.

' 2. A. whirlpool game device, comprising a frustro-conically formed bowl having side walls, a helicoid within said bowl spaced from said walls, and a substantially horizontal relatively straight guide connected to said helicoid at its upper convolution; said side walls being provided withopenings dispose-d adjacent the convolutions of said helicoid.

3. A whirlpool game device, comprising a helical guiding means for a rolling element,

side walls conformed to said guiding means,

and a track formed of said helical means and saidsi'de walls to support the rolling element; said walls being provided with openings adjacent the helical means. 7 i

4. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a substantially horizontal table, avconically formed bowl having side walls converging downwardly about a vertical axis,

a tapered helicoid conforming to said side walls disposed within said bowl in spaced relation therewith, and a relatively straight guiding means disposed upon said table and connected to said helicoid. v

5. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with arollable element, of a relatively straight guiding means for said element, a conically formed helicoid having a vertical axis and connecting with said straight guiding means, and walls in spaced relation with s'aid helicoi-d to form a track therewith for said rollable element. 7 V

6. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a r'ollable element, of a relativelyvstraight guiding means for said element, a conically formed helicoid having a vertical axis and connecting with said straight guiding means, walls having openings and arranged in spaced relation to said helicoid to form a track therewith for said 

